Bands I liked

Vyk Non, Temples, The Leaf Library, Big Thief, Jess Williamson, The Vaulted Skies, Catholic Action, Hen Ogledd, Emma Kupa, Laura Cannell, Essen and the Witch, Indian Queens, Yassassin, Fews

Bands that were okay

Grounds, Bette Noire, ISAN, Amelia Lappert, Stevie Parker, The Great Electric, eagleowl , Neon Waltz

Bands I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Wild Daughter, Alex Taylor, Hope, Charlie Manning, Judah Gayle, Glass Table Girls, 

Best Gig

Some great gigs this month. Fews were great at the Moth Club. But the highlight was Esben and the Witch.

Best new band

Big Thief

Albums of the Month

• Strike a Match – Sacred Paws
• The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads (Remaster) – Lift to Experience
• Heart Song – Jess Williamson

Best photo

Time moves on and they’re now on their third album. An album that I helped support through Pledgemusic. It’s arguably their strongest to date. No scratch that, it is their strongest to date. They’re now clearly a band that know their capabilities. With Steve Albini behind the recording desk, he’s managed to beef up their sound. Having caught the end of an excellent performance at the Great Escape, I was really looking forward to seeing the gig.

The evening didn’t start well. One of the support bands was simply one of the worst support bands I’ve ever had the displeasure to encounter.

When the lead singer goes on stage and lays down while the sound guy’s trying to sort out the sound check and they’re unable to plug cables in simply because they’re so far out of it, in all likelihood they’re going to be awful. Luckily they didn’t stick around long

I find it difficult to choose best gigs. I’m not sure if this was the best gig of the year. But it was definitely one of the most satisfying. With such an excellent album I had set the expectations high. Often when I’ve built up an expectation it’s difficult for bands to fulfil them, even when the gig is good. But tonight’s gig managed to tick all the boxes. The meaty sound of the album transferred well to the live arena with the band on top form.

So who did I manage to see?

Ella vs Mountain – sounded nice. But hard to tell as she was playing the tent in the hub and there was a lot of noise

Black City Lights – DJ and singer. Not my cup of tea

The Darlingtons – energetic midday set from these guys

French for Rabbits – nice kick-back with a beer on a sunny day type music

John J Presley – excellent set from one of my current favourites

September Girls – only caught the last two songs. But sounded excellent

Baby Strange – didn’t work for me.

Telegram – seen these guys before and again I was impressed by them

Esben and the Witch – listened to most their set from the street but managed to catch two songs. Sounded really good. Have to catch them again

Wytches – despite sound issues, another great set

Deathcrush – didn’t ‘get’ these girls. Lots of noise and shouting but nothing that grabbed me

Theo Verney – enjoyable set

Scott and Charlene’s wedding – don’t take themselves too seriously and seemed to be having a good time, as were the crowd

Barbarossa – not my cup of tea

Gavin James – hard to judge. Quiet music, but people were talking near me so I left

Femme – Seemed to be three girls dancing to a backing tape. I quickly moved on to the next venue

Serfina Steer – multi instruments uncluding a harp. Quiet nice laid back music

Syd Arthur – was looking forward to seeing these guys as I’d heard they were good. Just didn’t grab me at all

Public Acess TV – enjoyable set

Brawlers – energetic set that seemed to go down well.

Gnarlwolves – punk sound but nothing particularly interesting